• In 2007, after years of heated debate among politicians, business and citizen groups, the Maryland General Assembly approved the wording of an amendment to the state constitution to legalize video lottery. (AB)
• On Nov. 4, voter will have a chance to vote on that amendment (AB)
15,000 slot machines would be divided among Allegany, Anne Arundel, Cecil, and Worcester and Baltimore City. No jurisdiction would have more than one slots location. (AB)
• Gov. Martin O’Malley , in a collection of unions, Chambers of Commerce , and small business groups say the machines are necessary to better fund schools and help offset a budget defect projected at $ 1 billion in 2010. (AB)
• The proposed amendment provides that nearly half of the slots revenue would be earmarked for the education of children in public schools, including school construction, with smaller portions going to the horse-breading industry and race track improvements . (AB)
• Scott Arceneaux, senior advisor to stop slots in Maryland, said elected officials in his home state of Louisiana, where gambling is legal, sold slots as a panacea that would raise state revenue, generate jobs and improve schools. (AB)
• If the amendment is approved by the voters, Anne Arundel County would get 4,750 machines, Baltimore City, 3,750, Worchester County and Cecil 2,500 each and Allegany County , 1,500. (AB)
• Education projects and casino operators wo
uld get 48.5 and 33 percent, respectively of the cash.
• Local governments that have slots would split 5.5 percent of the money, based on the number of machines in their jurisdiction. (AB)
• The remaining 1.5 percent would be earmarked for small, minority and women owned businesses
• Legislative analyst project slots would generate as much as 1.4 billion, with $660 Million going to schools. (AB)
• The Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research study estimates that slots would bring in between $687 million and $1.4 billion dollars . (AB)
• Without slots revenue, he said, Maryland would have to cut services or shift costs of the state funded programs to local jurisdiction. (AB)
• Without slots the state would likely transfer the cost of the teacher pension program to local jurisdiction (AB)
• $660 million projected from slots (AB)
• Those horses could race in the state and be eligible for higher purses because they are Maryland bred (AB)
• Goodall and others also claim that money from slots in Maryland would allow horse breeders to stay in business, thus protecting horse-farms lands from developed. (AB
the horse racing will benefit from the lots because of the boost in purse (KS)
maryland budget has been cut by $1.8 billion (KS)
the maryland bufget has increased from $30 billion to $31.2 billion (KS)
• Opponents still vigorously imply that would govern Maryland’s slots industry is disingenuous and nebulously worded to obscure the bill’s real purpose to enrich casino operators and race track owners . (KS)
• Marylanders voted to allow slot machines to raise money for public education. (EL)
• Many opponents of this plan argue that the VLTs are more likely than traditional lottery games to lead to compulsive gambling. Some call them Video Crack. Because they allow players to bet repeatedly in a short period of time. (EL)
• Others oppose the games and gambling generally on moral grounds. (KS)
• Slots would be permitted to operate freely and the rate of the return marketplace would be closed to competitive. (EL)
• Policymakers could then internalize any negative externality of gambling by levying a proper Pigouvian tax (EL)
• The tax raises very little revenue and its benefits are largely views as paternalistic and/or protesting the property of the others in society. (EL)
• There are two components to a tax burden the revenue portion and the excess burden (EL)
• Other options for gambling already exist for Maryland residents such as internet gambling lotteries and out-of-state gambling (EL)
rovides revenue for dozens of states (KS)
Provides alternative to tax increases orcuts to vitalervices (KS) 30
Mihoces, Gary. "Peakness plays big role in maryland slots debate." USA Today 19 5 2008. USA Today. 19 5 2008. 11/17/08 <Http:www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/triple/preakness/2005-05-19-slots-tracks_x.htm>.
tracks with slots have more money for racing purses (CA)
owners of race tracks saying the we need slots to bring in money to the tracks (JW)
many states including florida, new york, pennsylvania, california, and kentucky, are trying to install slots in there race tracks (CA)
slots are a very healthy alternative source of revenue (CA)
slots will bring in an estimated $70 million to $100 million annualyy (JW)
slots will change the economic of horse racing industry (CA)
race tracks will lose $2 to $3 million each year if slots are not passed (KS)
some of the slot revenues will be givin to horse racing rurses (KS)
only 15,000 slots are to be put in race tracks combined (KS)
the first bill passed only allowed 9,500 slots across maryland(EL)
in the lasst couple months the general assembly has made budget ciuts of $350 million (KS)
without slots the budget cut of education would increase from where it is now $1.3 million (EL)
a projected $660.4 million will go to schools (EL)
an estikmated $400 million is going across borders to deleware and west virginia (KS)
the state will recive $90 million for the sale of slot licenses (VV)
the slots will fill up the $1 million deficit in the budget (KS)
maryland schools will recievie over half of the money brought in by slots. (KS)
the slots will bring in enough money so that some of the "wants" of the poeple will be filled (KS)
an inital liscence fee of $3 million per 500 slots (AB)
the slots will bring in hundreds of new job oppritunitys (AB)
no site can have more than 4,750 slots (EL)
33% of slot revenue will go to the slot operators (EL)
slot machines will help close maryland budget short fall (KS)
slots will help us avoid a huge budget cut in many vital things (JW)
slots will also help avoid the big school budget cuts (JW)
the slots will bring in good job oppurtunitys (JW)
the jobs that slots produce will pay enough that you can provide for a family (AB)
66% of voters voted for slots (AB)
the slots will help the maryland jockeys club but giveing extra money top the racing purse (VV)
the zoning laws may have to be canged because of slots (VV) 30
Schutt, Bryan . "Slots: Tracking revenue." Carroll County Times Carroll County Times. 13 10 2008. 11/18/2008 <Http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/10/13/news/local_news/newsstory1.txt>.
slot machines bring in millions or billions of revenue (JW)
most of the slot refvenue is used to help communities in their areas (CA)
the revenue will go to different categories such as health and welfare, transprotation, safety and projects for the public good (VV)
alot of local businesses will benifit from slots because of the increase in visitors (VV)
small businesses that deal with the horse racing industry will benefit from slots because of the incrrease in racing purses (CA)
half of amrylanders aged 50+ supported slots (JW)
almost 6 in 10 50+ resident voted for slots because they wanted to avoid state budget cuts (JW)
maryland elderly voted for slots becasue they say its improtant to support legalization og slots to avoid hughe budget cuts (AB)
69% of revenues will go to the school system, 61% to long-term care, and 45% to transportation, such as road repairs (AB)
marylanders 50+ also supported slots to expand community based services (CA)
about every 7 in 10 marylanders supported slots (CA)
the slots will carry an initail fee of $3 million for each 500 slot machines (JW)
bids also include $25 million for constryction and related cost for every 500 machines. (CA)
in 2013 slots will be in allegany, anne arundel, cecil, worcester counties, and the city of baltimore (CA)
15,000 slots are to be placed at 5 different locations in maryland. (CA)
the slots are goin to help bring maryland out of its economic slump (CA)
a small amount of slot revenue will go to the slot holders(CA)
slots are going to take alot of the lottery's revenue (CA)
the slots are going to help the jockeys becuase of the amount of slot revenue going toward horse racing purses (CA)
without slots maryland would have to cut schools budgets by double than what they already are (CA)
hundreds of job oppurtunitys will open up because of slots (CA)
education will recice about 48.5% of slots revenue (CA)
slots will bring in more revenue than taxes every colud (CA)
putting slots in racce tracks will help save over 600,000 acres of land used for horse related agriculture (CA)
slot operators will recive around 33% of slot revenue (CA)
18% of slot revenue will go towards baltmimore city for revitalization (CA)
37 states already have slots and are benefiting from the great source of revenue (CA)
tax payers will benefit from slots because of the decrease in property tax once slots are put in (CA)
slots will not affet tax payers (CA)
with slots in maryland the money marylanders make will stay inmaryland (CA) 30
slots are going to help generate purse structure, highways, and schools (CA)
slots our, our savoir of the maryland education system (CA)
many citizens of maryland are looking forward to out new way to bring in revenue to the state (CA)
slots will keep the state off the idea of rasing taxes (CA)
people are looking forward for slots to help the community (CA)5
after seeing how the crime decreased in jefferson county, poeple are looking forward to slots becasue of the crime decrease (CA)
people are refering to slots as a "double-bladed sword" (CA)
positives of slots over weigh negitives on communities (CA)
slots are a fun way to give your money to the goverment intead of the regular ways (CA)
the state would of had to raise taxes if the slot referendum wasn't passed (CA) 10
people wished the slot referendum was passed earlyer if they knew it would bring in so much money (CA)
alot of people voted for it not just becasue the want gamble more, but to help out the education system (CA)
there wasnt much debate over the casino at rocky gap state park, because carrol county knows it needs the money (CA)
allegany county will benefit form slots because of the 5.5% budget cut to the local goverments and it will also help the local goverments (CA)
allegany county wants to see the marylanders money kept in maryland (CA) 15
worchester county sends over $100 million in taxes to the state every year but with slots the county may be able to keep some off the money (CA)
worchester county should benefit form the slots because of all the tourist that come to the area, and also it gives the tourist something extra to do (CA)
the slots will help worchester county by helping them fix there money problem (CA)
if the slots wouldnt of ben passed then alot of poeple would be losing there jobs (CA)
alot of people in baltimore would love to see the money go towards schools and roads (CA) 20
the slots will help the city by reduceing property taxes (CA)
the slots will also help support public education and build new schools (CA)
slots are the best way to get more revenue into the state (CA)
slots will help prevent cost getting sent down to local goverments (CA)
baltimore will greatly benefit from the new source of revenue (CA) 25
baltimore officals say that the refferendum needs to pass not just for the sate goverment but also for the local goverments (CA)
if the slots didnt pass then many baltimore residents would have lost there jobs (CA)
the 18% of slot revenue that goes toward baltimore will be used for revitalization of baltimore and schools (CA)
baltimore residnts voted for slots becuse it is a healthy alternative source of revenue for a state (CA)
maryland officals would love to see the revenue used to bolster the horse racing industry and other state concerns (CA) 30
- provides revenue for dozens of states (KS)
- Provides alternative to tax increases orcuts to vitalervices (KS)
- Honorable people on both side of the opinion (EL)
- really didn't affect tax payers (CA)
- allow state to recapture funds (VV)
- provides $660 million directly for education (VV)
- only way to avoid deep tax cuts (JW)
- Penn. shows more money per machines than maryland's estimate (JW)
- Tax payers benefit from property tax reduction from slots (EL)
- west virginia's slot revenue is from marylanders (JW)
- estimated $660 million dollars are going to schools (JW)
- crime rate in maryland will decrease with the legalazation of slots (CA)
- crime went down in deleware by double digits when slots were introduced (EL)
- 37 states have slots and they are benefting from it (JW)
- slots will recapture $400 million dollars spent on other states slots (JW)
- slots will be the last expansion of gambling unless approved by voters (JW)
- slots will prevent damage done to our state because of cutting critical investment (JW)
- Slot opponents offer no budget solutions (KS)
- anti-slots activists raise question on rervenue (KS)
- ones whom work for local government usually promote slots (KS)
- the only responsible option (KS)
- in 15 to 20 years, slot mechines went from two states to 37 states (KS)
- The states to analysts stand by their projections (KS)
- locations include: Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Cecil, Worecester, and Allegany counties (EL)
- Volunteers handed out placards at polling places with Obama and him saying, "Vote for question 2." (EL)
- residants play in WV and DE which takes state revenue out of the state (KS)
- if we have slots in MD, the money MD makes, will stay in MD, not go to WV or DE (KS)
- the casinos keep around 90% of the revenue. (CA)
- liscence holders are required to pay $425 per slot machine per year (CA)
- state will recive $90 million from the sales of slot machine liscences (CA) 30.
- machines return 10% and keep 90% for the house (VV)
- Magna Enterprises collects the house (VV)
- (con) tax on the poor to subsidize the rich (VV)
- about the half of the revenue from the slots would help fund state education (KS)
- 7% percent of horse racing purse, 5.5% of purse would go to local goverments ( KS)
- 1.5% goes to a minority buissness fund (KS)
- without slots, the other only options will be severe service reductions or additional taxes (KS)
- slots are an imoportant elemant to the solution of structural deficit (KS)
- with 97%, approval of the measure was 59% (EL&JW)
- Gov. Martin O'Malley said "slots are badly needed to help fix the state's big budget deficits" (KS)
- the slots will be placed in the most eastern part of maryland (EL)
- slots are badly needed to fix the financial deficit (EL)
- the state will recive $90 millon from the sale of slot licences (EL)
- slots can generate as much as $660 million a year for the state (EL)
- education will recive at least 48.5% of revenue(CA)
- the revenue used for education will be used for school construction and improvements.(CA)
- slot operators will receive no more than 33% (CA)
- each slot holder must pay an inital fee of $3 million per 500 slots at the venue (CA)
- liscence holders are required to pay $425 per slot machine per year (CA)
- 18% of revenue will go to baltimore city for community revitalization in park heights and northwest baltimore locations (CA)
- 2.5% of slot revenue wil go to race track renewal fund, and another 2% will go to the lottery commission (CA)
- 1.5% of revenue will go to an account to provide investment capital and loans to small, minority-and women owned businesses (CA)
- a UMBC study estimated that the slots will bring in between $688 million and $1.4 billion by 2013 (CA)
- slots are the only thing that will help maryland get out of its economic slump (JW)
- slots will raise money to help maryland schools (JW)
- zoning laws must change when slots are put in to prevent fighting (CA)
- 4,750 slots will be placed in the laruel Racetrack in anne arundel county (CA)
- the slots could brinmg in as much as $660 million for the schools each year (AB)
- there will be an increase in slots when the slots are put in (KS)
- the slots will help close the state's revenue short fall (AB)
- slots will take awy from the lottery revenue (AB) 30
**"Slots, a Winner-Take-All Game." www.marylandonmymind.wordpress.com 31 10 2007. 6. Maryland On My Mind . November 13, 33 2008 www.marylandonmymind.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/slots-a-winner-take-all-game/ .
> Sears , Bryan . "Slots or not?." Catonsville 29 10 2008. explore baltimore county. 29 10 2008. 11/14/08 <Http:ww.exp`lorebaltimorecounty.com/news/4408/slots-or-not/>.
• Marylanders voted to allow slot machines to raise money for public education. (EL)
• Many opponents of this plan argue that the VLTs are more likely than traditional lottery games to lead to compulsive gambling. Some call them Video Crack. Because they allow players to bet repeatedly in a short period of time. (EL)
• Others oppose the games and gambling generally on moral grounds. (KS)
• Slots would be permitted to operate freely and the rate of the return marketplace would be closed to competitive. (EL)
• Policymakers could then internalize any negative externality of gambling by levying a proper Pigouvian tax (EL)
• The tax raises very little revenue and its benefits are largely views as paternalistic and/or protesting the property of the others in society. (EL)
• There are two components to a tax burden the revenue portion and the excess burden (EL)
• Other options for gambling already exist for Maryland residents such as internet gambling lotteries and out-of-state gambling (EL)
Mihoces, Gary. "Peakness plays big role in maryland slots debate." USA Today 19 5 2008. USA Today. 19 5 2008. 11/17/08 <Http:www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/triple/preakness/2005-05-19-slots-tracks_x.htm>.
Schutt, Bryan . "Slots: Tracking revenue." Carroll County Times Carroll County Times. 13 10 2008. 11/18/2008 <Http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/10/13/news/local_news/newsstory1.txt>.
Knauer, Carrie Ann. "Communities split on slots." Carroll County Times 17` 10 2008. corroll county times . 17 10 2008. 11/18/2008 <http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/10/17/news/local_news/newsstory1.txt>.